News Releases

WGU Texas Student Enrollment Exceeds 5,000

State-endorsed online university celebrates milestone by offering $5,000 scholarships to help Texans earn their degrees

AUSTIN  Officials from nonprofit, online university WGU Texas, http://texas.wgu.edu, announced today that the university has surpassed the 5,000 mark in student enrollment, a 169 percent increase since its launch in August of 2011.

As the only state-endorsed, online university offering accredited competency-based degree programs, WGU Texas’ model is uniquerather than earning degrees based on time spent in class, students advance toward their credential at their own pace by demonstrating competency. Because students advance as soon as they demonstrate mastery of course materials, they can usually graduate with a bachelor’s degree in three yearssaving time and money.

WGU Texas has continued to grow its student population at a steady pace with an approximately 37 percent increase in matriculates over last yearwhich compares favorably with public universities. And, with more than 5,000 students currently enrolled, including students in 191 of the state’s 254 counties, the university is meeting the demands of hard-working adults who are trying to finish their degrees and quickly becoming an important part of the state’s higher education ecosystem.

“WGU Texas’ healthy growth is a true indication that more adult Texans are finding value in attaining a degree from our university to help them succeed in the state’s highly competitive, evolving job market,” said WGU President Dr. Robert Mendenhall. “We look forward to continuing to work with Texas community colleges and healthcare partners to reach out to the more than 3 million adults with no degree and create a brighter future for the state.”

In celebration of this milestone, WGU Texas will award five scholarships, each valued at up to $5,000 ($1,000 per term for up to five terms) to help adult learners in Texas pursue an online bachelor or master’s degree program at the university. While the university will award several scholarships, the Trailblazer Scholarship is a competitive program, and will be awarded based on academic record, financial need, readiness for online study, and current competency. The application deadline is September 30, 2014. For more information on the WGU Texas Trailblazer Scholarship, please visit texas.wgu.edu/trailblazer or call 1-877-214-7011.

With more than 50 accredited master’s and bachelor’s degrees in the high-demand fields of business, information technology, K-12 teacher education, and health professions, including nursing, WGU Texas focuses on providing affordable, high-quality opportunities for working adults and offers some of the lowest in the state — most of the university’s degree programs are charged at a flat rate of $2,890 per six-month term, and terms can begin on the first day of any month.

“I am proud to see our university doing its part to keep higher education accessible and affordable for adult learners,” said WGU Texas Chancellor Ray Martinez. “As we continue to grow, I look forward to helping more Texans realize their dream of finishing a degree.”